411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Fáfnir
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
Old Norse
Etymology
Derived from non faðma -na -ir fathomer, embracer (compare gmq-oda fafn). The spelling fáfn- steems from an excrescence following the m, introducing a short /b/ or /p/, in turn morphing into an /f/, thus something akin to /faðmnair/ → /faðmb͡hnair/ → /fahmb͡hnir/ → /fámhp͡hnir/ → /fáfnir/ (compare da favne, gmq-osw fampna, gmq-osw fambna, from non faðma, “fathom”).
Proper noun
m
the one who embraces; the name of a dragon
Descendants
fo Fávnir
is Fáfnir
sv Fafner Fafne 1